A 19-year-old student has died just days before starting her second year at university.

Nicola Hutchings, of Boundary Drive, Bradley Fold, had returned early to her university campus in Leeds to help look after Japanese visitors.

Her body was discovered in her room at Trinity and All Saints College, Horsforth, by shocked friends. Nicola was to start the second year of an English and media degree later this month.

An inquest, which opened in Wakefield this week, was told how she went to bed at 10.15pm on Monday of last week with a particularly bad headache.

Friends found her dead in bed the following morning in her room on the campus, which is part of Leeds University.

Police say there were no suspicious circumstances.

West Yorkshire coroner David Hinchliff adjourned the inquest for the outcome of more medical tests.

Parents Ian and Sheila Hutchings were too upset to talk about the tragedy.

Nicola studied A-levels in drama, English literature and geography at Rivington and Blackrod High School.

She also carried out community service through the Millennium Volunteers programme, helping younger drama students at the school as well as projects in the community.

Kevin McCarter, head of Upper Sixth, who taught Nicola English for two years, described her as thoughtful and imaginative.

He said: "We will remember her for her great enthusiasm, her keen interest in drama and her wonderful readiness to help around the school and the community." Nicola's university tutor also paid tribute to her. Fiona Thompson, dean at the faculty of media, said: "Nicola showed a real talent for TV and radio. She was wonderful at communicating with people and was hugely popular."

Nicola had worked as a helper at Barnardo's Chorley Families Project for the last three years.

Volunteer co-ordinator Jean Hunt decribed Nicola as "a lovely, bubbly girl".

She said: "Nicola was a lovely girl who will be greatly missed. She met her boyfriend Simon Gray when they worked as volunteers on a summer project two years ago."

The funeral service was held yesterday (Thurs Sept 4) at Horwich Parish Church.